Utah statute
Utah Code Ann. § 76-5b-205 — Unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image - Penalty.
Current through 2026 General Session
Part of Part 2: Sexual Exploitation, Utah Code.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Utah Code Ann. § 76-5b-205
Statutory text current through the 2026 General Session. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Utah.
(1)(a) As used in this section: (1)(a)(i) "Child" means an individual under 18 years old. (1)(a)(ii) "Counterfeit intimate image" means any visual depiction, photograph, film, video, recording, picture, or computer or computer-generated image , picture, or video, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, that has been edited, manipulated, generated, or altered to depict the likeness of an identifiable individual and purports to, or is made to appear to, depict that individual's: (1)(a)(ii)(A) exposed human male or female genitals or pubic area, with less than an opaque covering; (1)(a)(ii)(B) a female breast with less than an opaque covering, or any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola; or (1)(a)(ii)(C) the individual engaged in any sexually explicit conduct or simulated sexually explicit conduct. (1)(a)(iii) "Sexually explicit conduct" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-5b-203. (1)(a)(iv) "Simulated sexually explicit conduct" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-5b-203. (1)(a)(v) "Single criminal episode" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-1-401. (1)(b) Terms defined in Section 76-1-101.5 apply to this section. (2)(a) An actor commits the offense of unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image if the actor knowingly or intentionally distributes a counterfeit intimate image that the actor knows or should reasonably know would cause a reasonable person to suffer emotional or physical distress or harm, if: (2)(a)(i) the actor has not received consent from the depicted individual to distribute the counterfeit intimate image; and (2)(a)(ii) the counterfeit intimate image was created or provided by the actor without the knowledge and consent of the depicted individual. (2)(b) An actor who is 18 years old or older commits aggravated unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image if, in committing the offense described in Subsection (2)(a), the individual depicted in the counterfeit intimate image is a child. (3)(a)(i) A violation of Subsection (2)(a) that is knowing or intentional is a class A misdemeanor. (3)(a)(ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(a)(i), a violation of Subsection (2)(a) that is knowing or intentional is a third degree felony on a second or subsequent conviction for an offense under this section that does not arise from a single criminal episode. (3)(b)(i) A violation of Subsection (2)(b) that is knowing or intentional is a third degree felony. (3)(b)(ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(b)(i), a violation of Subsection (2)(b) that is knowing or intentional is a second degree felony on a second or subsequent conviction for an offense under this section that does not arise from a single criminal episode. (3)(c) This section does not apply to an actor who engages in conduct that constitutes a violation of this section to the extent that the actor is chargeable, for the same conduct, under Section 76-5b-201, sexual exploitation of a minor, or Section 76-5b-201.1, aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. (4) This section does not apply to: (4)(a)(i) lawful practices of law enforcement agencies; (4)(a)(ii) prosecutorial agency functions; (4)(a)(iii) the reporting of a criminal offense; (4)(a)(iv) court proceedings or any other judicial proceeding; or (4)(a)(v) lawful and generally accepted medical practices and procedures; (4)(b) a counterfeit intimate image if the individual depicted in the image voluntarily allows public exposure of the image; (4)(c) a counterfeit intimate image that is portrayed in a lawful commercial setting; or (4)(d) a counterfeit intimate image that is related to a matter of public concern or interest or protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Article I, Sections 1 and 15 of the Utah Constitution. (5)(a) This section does not apply to an Internet service provider or interactive computer service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. Sec. 230(f)(2), a provider of an electronic communications service as defined in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2510, a telecommunications service, information service, or mobile service as defined in 47 U.S.C. Sec. 153, including a commercial mobile service as defined in 47 U.S.C. Sec. 332(d), or a cable operator as defined in 47 U.S.C. Sec. 522, if: (5)(a)(i) the distribution of a counterfeit intimate image by the Internet service provider occurs only incidentally through the provider's function of: (5)(a)(i)(A) transmitting or routing data from one person to another person; or (5)(a)(i)(B) providing a connection between one person and another person; (5)(a)(ii) the provider does not intentionally aid or abet in the distribution of the counterfeit intimate image; and (5)(a)(iii) the provider does not knowingly receive from or through a person who distributes the counterfeit intimate image a fee greater than the fee generally charged by the provider, as a specific condition for permitting the person to distribute the counterfeit intimate image. (5)(b) This section does not apply to a hosting company, as defined in Section 76-5c-401, if: (5)(b)(i) the distribution of a counterfeit intimate image by the hosting company occurs only incidentally through the hosting company's function of providing data storage space or data caching to a person; (5)(b)(ii) the hosting company does not intentionally engage, aid, or abet in the distribution of the counterfeit intimate image; (5)(b)(iii) the hosting company does not knowingly receive from or through a person who distributes the counterfeit intimate image a fee greater than the fee generally charged by the provider, as a specific condition for permitting the person to distribute, store, or cache the counterfeit intimate image; and (5)(b)(iv) the hosting company immediately removes the counterfeit intimate image upon notice from a law enforcement agency, prosecutorial agency, or the individual purportedly depicted in the counterfeit intimate image. (5)(c) A service provider, as defined in Section 76-5c-401, is not negligent under this section if it complies with Section 76-5c-402.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image ranges from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Second Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-5b-205.
Unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image — base offense: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5b-205(3)(a)(i)) · Unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image — repeat offense: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5b-205(3)(a)(ii)) · Aggravated unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image — base offense: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5b-205(3)(b)(i)) · Aggravated unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image — repeat offense: Second Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5b-205(3)(b)(ii))
Which Utah statute covers unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image?
Unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-5b-205 (Unlawful distribution of a counterfeit intimate image - Penalty).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.